Music
Welcome to the Department of Music
Music — that reverberant sounding stuff that energizes, soothes, entertains, shapes identities, and makes us dream — is something you can study at the U of A in its infinite shapes. We offer instruction in performance, composition and courses exploring music’s social, cultural and sounding realities, which will enrich any degree and career dream you have. Whether you want to make music your profession, or you are just curious about how music functions, communicates emotions, heals, and much more, you are in the right place.
Programs of Study | Concerts + Events
Undergraduate Programs
Whether you dream of performing, studying the music of other times and cultures, or creating groundbreaking compositions of your own, the Department of Music offers a variety of programs and courses to suit your passion.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Music offers four distinct programs of graduate study, MA, MMus, PhD and DMus, with specializations in performance, conducting, composition, music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology.
Concerts + Events
Find information about performances and events featuring faculty, students, staff and visiting artists, including the Mainstage Concert Series, the Questions about Music Colloquium Series, Masterclasses and more.
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SSI
The Sound Studies Institute (SSI) at the University of Alberta supports research and creative activities that centralize sound in any way.
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CCE
Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology (CCE) is a world music archive that serves as a research and teaching resource for musical and cultural traditions.
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QaM
The Questions About Music (QaM) colloquium series is a forum for the Music Department (and beyond) to come together and chat about what makes us curious.
News + Events
Canadian musicians facing multi-front squeeze from AI, streaming and venue closures | Folio
New research shows Canadian musicians are feeling increasingly hostile toward the tech industry and advances like generative AI, which they say are devaluing art and making it more difficult to gain listeners and earn money from making music. Dr. Brian Fauteux, U of A professor of popular music and media studies, suggests that the resentment of AI is likely a signal of a larger issue.
Giving
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